It is amazing that some confuse the role of US president on who becomes World Bank (WB) president with what G8 nations do. G8 nations are merely a group that gather to discuss global interests and how to maintain control and influence. They neither vote nor consult officially on who becomes WB president. They do not have a secretariat. The US president has that sole responsibility and authority.  That said, Obama’s failure to visit Nigeria apart from the official issued reports/reasons, also has to do with Mrs Okonjo-Iweala challenging Obama on his choice of WB nominee and President Jonathan pardoning former Bayelsa governor. Washington DC, and its ever powerful Beltway operators are not a forgiving bunch when someone from a low country like Nigeria challenges a US president.
 
WB presidency, is a political appointment that is the sole right of US president, and once they make their choice known, it is more like the ‘game is over.’  Staying on campaigning for the post when Obama has made his choice clear, was more like, let the best horse win in this Derby declared by Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala. Can anyone imagine how the prestige and reputation of Obama would have taken a beating were Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala s/elected WB president over Obama’s choice? While Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala was within her rights to seek whatever job she wanted, going against Obama’s choice and President Jonathan urging her had the whispers in DC asking, who are their advisers? The outcome? Nigeria got sidelined.
 
Anyone who thinks Boko Haram is Obama’s reason for not visiting Nigeria is just consoling himself. If the US president can visit war torn countries and high security countries, Nigeria is a piece of cake.

Some are so adamant blaming ‘Oyibo man,’ but will on the drop of a hat, seek a visa to the US or UK. Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala, was a reluctant first time Finance Minister because she demanded to be paid in Dollars. She had no confidence in the currency of her country.  If some Nigerians are so vehement on ‘Oyibo man’ machinations and manipulations, why not invoke and entrench Mazi Mbonu Ojike’s mantra ‘Boycott all Boycotables’?
 
There are choices in life: It is the willingness to exercise the choice that matters. Left to me, being Finance Minister of Nigeria is more prestigious than being WB president. WB was not going to promote someone from within to its presidency. The politics of that post is higher and bigger than what Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala could muster.  All of Africa’s exposure on WB subscription is less than 4%. If you are a student of corporate board politics, you will understand no one with such position has the influence to alter the direction on a board. Even in a case of hostile take-over, one comes with fire power.
 
It was like Obasanjo’s dreamy ambition of serving as UN Secretary General after 1979 hand over because somehow, based on Andrew Young’s faulty advice, he could be seen as promoting democracy. He was misled and saw that when he was locked up by Abacha. The world he thought respected him paid no attention to his situation. Not even his trusted adviser Andrew Young could garner US influence to free him. And for Obasanjo’s 8 yrs; he was basically shunned by the White House, such that the last African president to receive White House Dinner was Kenya’s Mwai Kibaki.

Washington DC is a tough city and PhD, does not cut it. It is a city driven by relationships and access. Nigerians diplomats are yet to break through because they are intimidated and often timid. ‘Oyibo man’ is not holding Nigeria down, Nigerians are holding Nigeria down!
 
De eje!
By Ejike Okpa II
Dallas, Texas.